Cryptocurrency wallet provider Bitget Wallet has partnered with payments giant Mastercard and licensed issuer Immersve to launch a revolutionary zero-fee crypto payment card, marking a significant step toward mainstream digital asset adoption. The card enables users to spend crypto at over 150 million merchants globally, positioning it as one of the most accessible crypto payment solutions available today.
The new payment card, available directly through the Bitget Wallet mobile application, supports real-time cryptocurrency-to-fiat conversions through on-chain swaps and deposit features. Initial availability focuses on the United Kingdom and European Union markets, with expansion planned for Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand in the coming months.
Leveraging Mastercard's "Digital First" technology infrastructure, users can apply for and receive digital cards within minutes of approval. The streamlined process integrates the card directly into mobile wallets, enabling immediate use at both physical and online merchants across Mastercard's extensive global network.
The card is usable via Apple Pay and Google Pay, and early users benefit from 5% cash back and yield opportunities, adding compelling incentives for adoption among cryptocurrency holders seeking practical spending solutions.
The partnership addresses a critical market need as stablecoins are seemingly everywhere, with Mastercard, Visa and JPMorgan all making recent moves in the crypto token space. This trend reflects the payments industry's recognition of digital assets' growing importance in global commerce.
On-Chain Settlement and Regulatory Compliance Framework
Transaction settlement occurs directly on-chain through automatic cryptocurrency-to-fiat conversion, maintaining compliance with Mastercard's regulatory standards. The process incorporates comprehensive Know-Your-Customer and Anti-Money-Laundering requirements, ensuring adherence to financial regulations across operating jurisdictions.
Immersve, the Mastercard-licensed issuer supporting the initiative, provides the regulatory infrastructure necessary for seamless crypto-to-traditional payment system integration. This partnership structure demonstrates how established financial institutions are collaborating with fintech innovators to bridge the gap between digital assets and conventional commerce.
Scott Abrahams, Executive Vice President of Global Partnerships at Mastercard, emphasized the strategic importance of the collaboration, stating that the partnership with Bitget Wallet represents a major advancement in bringing digital assets closer to widespread adoption. He drew parallels between digital wallets and email addresses, suggesting they are becoming equally ubiquitous in daily life.
"We're committed to working with innovative companies like Bitget Wallet and Immersve to make crypto transactions simple, secure, and accessible at scale," Abrahams said, highlighting Mastercard's commitment to cryptocurrency infrastructure development.
Jamie Elkaleh, Chief Marketing Officer at Bitget Wallet, echoed this sentiment while addressing growing market demand. "Crypto payments should be as seamless and secure as traditional transactions. With this partnership, Bitget Wallet users can now pay with crypto anywhere Mastercard is accepted," Elkaleh stated, emphasizing the partnership's role in making cryptocurrency utility accessible for everyday transactions.
Mastercard's Broader Cryptocurrency Strategy Context
This partnership aligns with Mastercard's aggressive 2025 cryptocurrency expansion strategy. Mastercard tokenized 30% of its transactions in 2024, demonstrating significant progress in digital payment infrastructure development. The company has positioned itself at the forefront of the cryptocurrency payments revolution, recognizing competitive pressures from digital assets.
Latest partnerships with OKX and Nuvei will unlock a 360-degree approach where consumers can spend stablecoins and merchants can receive them, creating a seamless ecosystem, according to recent Mastercard announcements. This comprehensive approach suggests the company is building integrated infrastructure rather than isolated cryptocurrency solutions.
Recent Mastercard initiatives include partnerships with major cryptocurrency exchanges and stablecoin integration projects. Mastercard is expanding its network to include a range of stablecoins for everyday payments and cross-border settlements, working with financial technology partners to create comprehensive payment ecosystems.
The cryptocurrency payments market has experienced explosive growth, with annual stablecoin transfer volume reaching $27.6 trillion in 2024, surpassing a combined volume of Visa and Mastercard in 2024 by over 7.68%. This data underscores the significant market opportunity driving traditional payment processors toward cryptocurrency integration.
Mastercard's prediction that all EU transactions will be tokenized by 2030 reflects the company's long-term commitment to digital asset infrastructure. In 2025, look for blockchain technology to embed even more deeply into banking and financial services, enabling faster transactions, more transparency, new capabilities and more innovation, according to company forecasts.
The Bitget Wallet partnership represents one component of Mastercard's multi-pronged cryptocurrency strategy, which includes recent collaborations with Chainlink to enable direct on-chain cryptocurrency purchases through off-chain payments for over 3 billion users. These initiatives collectively position Mastercard as a bridge between traditional financial infrastructure and emerging digital asset ecosystems.
Global Expansion and Adoption Roadmap
The phased geographic rollout strategy begins with established regulatory frameworks in the UK and EU before expanding to additional markets. This approach allows for operational refinement and regulatory compliance validation before broader international deployment.
Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand represent the next expansion phase, targeting regions with significant cryptocurrency adoption rates and favorable regulatory environments. The measured expansion strategy demonstrates careful consideration of regulatory complexities while maximizing market opportunity.
The zero-fee structure differentiates this offering from existing crypto payment solutions, potentially accelerating user adoption by eliminating a significant barrier to cryptocurrency spending. Combined with the 5% cash back incentive for early users, the value proposition positions the card competitively against traditional payment methods.
This partnership signals a pivotal moment in cryptocurrency mainstream adoption, as established payment networks integrate digital assets into existing merchant infrastructure. The collaboration between Bitget Wallet, Mastercard, and Immersve demonstrates how traditional financial institutions, fintech innovators, and regulatory-compliant issuers can collaborate to create practical cryptocurrency utility for everyday consumers.